Q88 version five released

INTERTANKO has released the fifth version of its vetting tool, Questionnaire 88 (Q88).

Q88 was first unveiled in 1988 and has been periodically revised to include up-to-date information for assessing tanker suitability and risk when chartering.

INTERTANKO’s Vetting Committee, and its Q88 Working Group, headed by Capt Ashley Cooper (Scorpio Ship Management), has worked to ensure that the questionnaire is kept topical, the organisation claimed.

Capt Cooper explained: “This latest revision ensures that the Questionnaire 88 remains dynamic as it now actively maps the variants of OCIMF’s Vessel Particular Questionnaire as they currently exist. The compilation of selected information in each Questionnaire 88 variant now affords the assessor the possibility of utilising relevant data in screening specific vessels by type.”

Q88 was last revised in 2015 and this latest edition takes into account new questions bringing in changes to address new regulations, specifically for the LNG/LPG/chemical sectors.

In order to support all the required information for each specific tanker sector, Q88 is now available in five different variants - oil, chemical, oil/chemical, LPG and LNG.

The questionnaire will continue to be transferable between various parties’ internal systems through the publishing of an XML version. All existing Q88 data will automatically be migrated to the new version specific to each vessel; however, owners/operators are urged to check their ships’ data to ensure that it is correct and up to date.

This revision has been carried out with the assistance of Q88 LLC, which operates the website www.Q88.com.

Fritz Heidenreich, Q88 LLC president, said: “This revision incorporates recommendations and feedback that we have had from our subscribers since the last revision in 2015, demonstrating that the revised Questionnaire 88 is a collaborative effort for the benefit of our industry.”

Ongoing feedback and revisions will continue to keep the questionnaires up to date, relevant and, as a result, widely used as an invaluable risk assessment tool, INTERTANKO said.